Process and apparatus for producing fancy yarns

ABSTRACT

AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR PRODUCING FANCY YARNS, I.E., &#34;NUBBLED&#34; YARNS WHEREIN AN EFFECT YARN IS WOUND ON AT LEAST ONE CORE YARN UPON PASSAGE THROUGH A FIRST COVERING OR LAPPING ELEMENT WITH A BINDING YARN BEING SUBSEQUENTLY WOUND ON THE INTERMEDIARY ASSEMBLY FORMED FROM THE EFFECT YARN AND CORE YARN IN A SECOND LAPPING OR COVERING ELEMENT, THE IMPROVEMENT RELATING TO THE FACT THAT THE SPEED OF THE INTERMEDIARY ASSEMBLY IS VARIED WHILE THE FINAL WINDING TO PRODUCE THE COMPLETED FANCY YARN IS CONDUCTED AT SUBSTANTIALLY CONSTANT SPEED.

March 16, 1971 NALPAS ETAL PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FANCYYARNS Filed Dec. 18, 1968 4 Sheets-$heet 1 FIG. 5

INVENTORS RAOUL' NALPAS G\LBERT DESCAMPS ETENNE DELLROI BY Q/Ll/MM {ifWalla/m7 ATTORNEYS March 16, 1971 NALPAS' ETAL PROCESS AND APPARATUS FORPRODUCING FANCY YARNS Filed Dec. 18, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORSRAOUL NALPAS GILBERT DESCAMPS ETIENNE DELcRom BY xfiuwm mallow ATTORNEYSR. NALPAS Er AL 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR8 RAOUL NALPAS ATTORNEYS March16, 1971 PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FANCY YARNS Filed Dec. 18.1968 H w m ivlLii ri /EME w m n a]! mm m T m a 2 fill 1% 6 March 16,1971 NALPAS ETAL 3,570,233

PROCESS AND vAPPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FANCY YARNS Filed. Dec. 18, 1968 4Sheets-Sheet 4 g Q N m -s-. c 2

INVENTORS RAOUL NALPAS GILBERT DESCAMPS ETIENNE DELCROIX ATTORNEYSUnited States Patent 3,570,233 PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FANCYYARNS Raoul Nalpas, Marq-en-Baroeul, Gilbert Descamps, Croix, andEtienne Delcroix, Roubaix, France, assignors t0 Societe Moulinage etRetorderie, Chavanoz, France Filed Dec. 18, 1968, Ser. No. 784,674Claims priority, application France, Dec. 28, 1967, 49,473; Nov. 22,1968, 50,653, 50,654 Int. Cl. 1865b 81/08; D02g 3/34 US. CI. 57-16 21Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The apparatus to carry out such aprocess comprises a first covering element carrying the effect yarn withthe core yarn passing through its longitudinal aXis, a second coveringelement carrying the binding yarn, and a winding system for the finishedfancy yarn. The apparatus additionally comprises, between the twocovering elements, a reserve member on which the intermediary compositeyarn may accumulate and a means which permits the varying the length ofyarn accumulated on the reserve member. The apparatus additionallycomprises a winding system for the finished yarn with a constant take-upspeed.

The present invention directed to a novel process for the production offancy yarns as well as an apparatus utilized therein; more particularly,the present invention is directed to such novel process and apparatusparticularly adapted for the production of a nubbled or textured yarnthrough a process which comprises winding an effect yarn with a coreyarn with subsequent binding of the intermediary assembly so formed.

Various processes and apparatus are known for the production of fancyyarns. Such processes generally consist of first forming protuberancesaround one or more core yarns by means of the so-called effect yarn andsubsequently binding the intermediary assembly produced in this mannerwith a so-called binding yarn to prevent the sliding of the protuberanceor nubs on the core yarn.

A continuous process previously utilized consists in taking up a coreyarn at the inlet of a lapping or covering element which carries theeffect yarn, then wrapping a binding yarn around it upon passage througha second covering element, and finally winding the fancy or texturedyarn thus obtained. In a practical embodiment, the joining of the coreyarn and effect yarn is effected by means of a cylindro-conical needlelocated in the longitudinal axis of the covering element, around whichneedle the effect yarn is coiled.

In the production of nubbled yarns, for example, the speed of the coreyarn is varied in a suitable manner, i.e., by varying the winding speed,for example. Thus, during the stopping or slowing down of the core yarnin such a process, since the rotational speed of the covering elementsremains constant, the effect yarn is wound at the same time around thecylindro-conical needle and around the core yarn to the effect thatprotuberances are formed around the core yarn. Simultaneously, however,the binding yarn continues to coil itself on the intermediary assembly,thus causing the finished yarn to have portions with zones of highertwist, thereby producing defects in appearance after weaving. Suchdefects take the form of stripes or welts which greatly reduce theesthetic value and salability of the facy yarns. Accordingly, for thisprimary reason, such previously employed process has not been completelysatisfactory for the production of fancy yarns and nubbled yarns inparticular.

In addition, since the winding speed is constantly varied, it isnecessary to use special devices to produce this varied effect and heavyand costly winding machinery, requiring a large consumption of power.Finally, the necessity of having such speed variations decrease theoutput of the mills. These, of course, are further disadvantagesasociated with the previously employed processes and apparatus forproducing fancy yarns.

In addition, it has been proposed prior to the development of thepresent invention to obtain a nubbledtype fancy yarn on apparatus with asingle hollow spindle of causing variations in the length of the yarnlocated just before the winding coil. This method has not beensatisfactory either, since the covered yarn was not held fast by thebinding yarn and the nubbled effect produced was not permanent.Accordingly, it has long been the desire of the art to provide a novelmethod and apparatus for producing fancy yarns and nubbled yarns inparticular in a manner which eliminates these inherent disadvantages anddeficiencies of previously employed apparatus and methods. This has nowbeen accomplished in accordance with the present invention.

Thus, in accordance with the present invention, it has been discoveredthat such disadvantages and deficiencies of previously employed priorart processes and apparatus can be eliminated by the use of a processand apparatus characterized by a variance in the speed of theintermediary assembly obtained by winding an effect yarn on at least onecore yarn in a first covering or lapping elements with a final windingof the finished fancy yarn at a substantially constant speed. Inaddition, the above disadvantages and deficiencies of the prior artapparatus are eliminated by the provision of the present inventionwherein a reserve member is utilized on which the intermediate compositeyarn may accumulate.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention toprovide a process and apparatus which eliminates the inherentdeficiencies and disadvantages of previously employed prior art systems.It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novelprocess for the production of fancy yarns wherein an effect yarn iswound on at least one core yarn upon passage in a first covering orlapping element and subsequently a binding yarn is wound on theintermediary assembly so formed, the improvement of the presentinvention being related to the fact that the speed of the intermediaryassembly is varied while the finished fancy yarn is wound at asubstantially constant speed.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a novelapparatus for the production of fancy yarns, such apparatus beingcharacterized by the presence of a reserve member located between twocovering elements, the reserve member being such that the intermediatecomposite yarn formed may accumulate thereon.

It is' still a further object of the present invention to provide suchapparatus further comprising a means which permits the varying of thelength of the yarn accumulated on the reserve member with a windingsystem for the finished yarn having a constant take-up speed.

A still further object of the present invention comprises such novelapparatus for the production of fancy yarns 3 wherein the reserve membercomprises a unit rotating around a fixed axle, the unit comprising atleast one roll or a set of rolls idly or freely mounted.

Still further objects and advantages of the novel process and apparatusof the present invention will become more apparent from the following,more detailed description thereof in connection with the accompanieddrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of the apparatus to produce afancy yarn in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a reserve element employed in accordance withone embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the reserve elements of FIG. 2 takenalong line AA';

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of a reserve element which can beemployed in a further embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of yet a further embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of still a further embodiment of a reserveelement which can be employed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the reserve element of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic illustration of the overall apparatus employedin accordance with the present invention, including a rotation drivingmeans;

And, FIG. 9 shows a further embodiment of the present inventionindicating a variation of the adjustment compensating elementsillustrated in FIG. 8.

Such figures, wherein like numerals represent like elements, will bedescribed hereinafter with respect to various embodiments of both theprocess and apparatus of the present invention.

The above objects and advantages of the process and apparatus areachieved in accordance with the present invention through the provisionof a process wherein an effect yarn is wound on at least one core yarnupon passage in a [first covering or lapping element and then a bindingyarn is wound on this intermediary assembly formed by the core yarn andeffect yarn upon passage in a second lapping element, the improvement ofthe present invention residing in that the speed of the intermediaryassembly is varied and the finished fancy yarn is wound at asubstantially constant speed.

As employed throughout the instant specification and claims, theexpression fancy yarn is meant to embrace a nubbled or textured yarn,also called a flake yarn as well as a boucl yarn, cockle yarn, etc. Inthis connection the process and apparatus of the present invention canbe suitably and advantageously employed in the production of any type offancy yarn having nubs or protuberances evenly or unevenly spaced overits length. In addition, in view of the great industrial advantage ofthe process and apparatus of the present invention, it is possible tovary the length, average diameter, amplitude and the frequency of theseprotuberances so that any combination of fancy effects can be obtained.Accordingly, the term fancy yarn, as indicated previously, has meant toembrace any and all of such effects and combinations thereof.

In practicing the process of the present invention, in order to vary thespeed of the intermediary assembly the length of the intermediate yarnis continually varied. Thus, 'where the length of the intermediate yarnis increased the elfect yarn is wound normally around the core yarnwithout forming any specific effect or pattern; when the length of theintermediate yarn is decreased, the speed of the core yarn alsodecreases so that the effect yarn, continuing to be wound at a constantspeed, forms a protuberance or nub. Additionally, since the winding ofthe finished fancy yarn is effected at a constant speed in accordancewith the present invention, the binding yarn itself winds on theintermediary assembly with a substantially constant twist so as to lockin the protuberances or nubs formed by varying the speed of theintermediary assembly. Generally, in accordance with the process of thepresent invention, only a single core yarn is utiilzed; however, as isthe case with conventional processes employed in the production of fancyyarns, it is also within the scope of the present invention to employseveral core yarns in the production of a single fancy yarn.

In accordance with the present invention, the apparatus employed incarrying out the novel process of the present invention generallycomprises a first covering element carrying the effect yarn with thecore yarn passing in the longitudinal axis; a second covering elementcarrying the binding yarn; and a winding system for the finished fancyyarn. The apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that,between the two covering elements, a reserve member is located, on whichthe intermediary assembly produced from the core yarn and effect yarnmay accumulate with a means which allows the variance of the length ofthe yarn accumulated on a reserve member. Additionally, the apparatus ofthe present invention contains a winding system for the finished yarn,the winding system having a constant takeup speed. 7

As indicated previously, the reserve member employed in accordance withthe process and apparatus of the present invention may be of anysuitable form. Generally, however, such reserve member comprises a unitrotating around a fixed axle, such unit comprising at least one roll ora set of rolls idly or freely mounted. The guiding of the yarn aroundthe reserve element may easily be effected by means of an arm equippedwith a guiding element, the arm being an integral part of the rotatingdriving axle of the reserve member. Preferably, such an arm issubstantially perpendicular to the rotary driving axle of the reservemember and is provided at one extremity with a grooved wheel.

In some instances, however, such an arrangement renders the placing ofthe yarn on the reserve member somewhat difficult, particularly when theapparatus is in operation. Accordingly, in accordance with a preferredembodiment of the present invention, the reserve member comprises a unitrotating around a fixed axle and carrying at least a set of rollers orone roller idly mounted, the roller or set of rollers being associatedwith a disc equipped with a yarn guiding element, the yarn guidingelement being integrated with the rotary axle of the rotating unit andplaced substantially perpendicularly to such axle.

Preferably, the reserve member has several rollers or sets of rollerswhich are separated substantially symmetrically by the disc equippedwith the guiding element. Advantageously, the yarn guiding element iscomposed of a double-flanged wheel idly mounted in a cavity provided inthe disc, the cavity extending to the periphery of the disc through aslit made in the disc so as to permit the access of the yarn onto thewheel.

According to another preferred embodiment, the reserve member isassociated to a fixed segment which envelops the disc and supports afixed or pivoting yarn guide which may receive the yarn.

According to still another advantageous embodiment, the rollers areslightly inclined with respect to the rotation axle of the rotary unit,so as to permit a better separation of the whorls of yarn upon itsaccumulation.

The driving of the reserve member may be effected by any conventionaland known means. However, the advantage of the process of the presentinvention is that it is possible to control the variations of temporarywinding and unwinding of the intermediate composite yarn on the reservemember in a substantially precise manner; in other words it is possibleto vary the speeds and times of rotation of the reserve member in onedirection and in the other in a substantially controlled manner. Inpractice, however, it is very difiicult to make a driving mechanism in asimple manner yet precise enough so that the reserve member is driven atsuch variable speeds and for given periods of time exactly as a functionof the winding speed. Accordingly, in practice there is always a lack ofsynchronization between the winding speed and the take-up speeds of theintermediary yarn.

Therefore, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention,the reserve member is rotatively driven by a mechanism which comprisesmeans for rotary driving of the reserve member, in one direction and inthe other, at identical or different speeds and for predeterminedperiods of time, characterized in that said driving means to rotate thereserve member are driven by an effect control device, comprising atleast one programming element and at least one adjustment compensatingelement.

The rotation driving means comprise appropriate means such as variablespeed motor, or by connecting gears or couplings connected to therotation driving shaft of the reserve member. The programming elementcomprises any suitable means such as a double track chain. When therotation driving means comprises clutches or couplings, at least onetrack, programmed or non-programmed, is used to drive one or several ofthe couplings controlling the rotation of the reserve member in onedirection, and the second track may be used to drive the rotation of thereserve member in the other direction. This programming element maycomprise any other equivalent means such as a magnetic tape, whichpermits a great flexibility of use.

The adjustment compensating element generally comprises a circuitbreaker device driven directly or indirectly by the rotary driving shaftof the reserve member and permitting the switching off of the meansdriving the rotation of the reserve member, thus catching up thevariation due to the lack of synchronization of the wind ing speed withrespect to the take-up speeds of the intermediate yarn. This adjustmentcompensating element may intervene at the maximum or minimumaccumulation points, or only at one of these two points.

In addition, a single member may play both the part of a programmingelement and the part of an adjustment compensating element, for example,by acting on the controls of a coupling or clutch.

This adjustment compensating element may be composed of a plate equippedwith at least one fixed abutment or stop, the plate being driven by therotation driving shaft of the reserve member, the fixed abutments actingupon at least one circuit breaker which permits the disconnecting of therotation driving means of the reserve member. This adjustmentcompensating element may also be composed of a screw controlling athreaded plug which slides in a groove and changes its direction oftranslation according to the direction of rotation of the reservemember, the plug also controlling at least one circuit breaker todisconnect the rotation driving means of the reserve member.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention,the same driving shaft drives at a constant speed the yarn take-updevice below the reserve member, for example, at the winding, as well asthe rotation driving of the reserve member at variable speed anddirections, through means of the effect driving device according to theinvention.

The process and apparatus of the present invention will now be morefully described by reference to the following detailed discussion of thedrawings.

According to FIG. 1, a core yarn 1 is unwound from a spool 2, the yarn 1passing into a tensioning member 3. The unwinding of the core yarn maybe through unrolling or unreeling.

At the entrance of the longitudinal axle of the covering elementcomposed of a hollow spindle 4, the core yarn 1 passes along acylindro-conical needle 5, around which is wound the effect yarn 6carried by a spool 7 placed on the hollow spindle 4 and driventherewith.

In a variation of this embodiment, it is possible to eliminate thecylindro-conical needle 5. I

The intermediary yarn 8 formed by the winding of the effect yarn 6 uponthe core yarn 1, passes on a yarn reserve member 17, then into a secondcovering element composed of another hollow spindle 9, which carries aspool 10 of binding yarn 11. This yarn is unwound by means of thespindle cap 12.

In another variation, when it is desired, for example, to obtain aslacker yarn, it is not necessary to use the spindle cap 12.

The fancy yarn 13 thus formed goes through spindle passes on a returnwheel 14, then is wound on the receiving spool 15 which is driven bywinding roller 16 driven at a constant speed.

Between the two hollow spindles 4 and 9, the reserve member 17 allowscontinual varying of the length of the yarn by accumulation and deliveryof the collected yarn at variable speed.

The reserve member shown on FIGS. 2 and 3 comprises a shaft 21integrated with a suitable fixation means 22 with an arm 23 which isperpendicular to the shaft 21 and equipped at its extremity with a yarnguiding member 24. Shaft 21 may be driven in a forward or a back warddirection, and may be actuated with variable rotation speeds, periodicor aperiodic, This shaft 21 is driven by means of apparatus to bedescribed below.

Cylindrical rollers 25, 26, 27 and 28 are idly mounted by means ofsupports 29 and 36 on both sides of arm 23, symmetrically with respectto shaft 21.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of a reserve member which can beemployed to carry out the process of the present invention. As in theapparatus of FIG. 2, this member is composed of a shaft 31 integratedwith fixation means 32 with an arm 33 which is perpendicular to theshaft 31 provided at its free extremity with a yarn guiding member 34.Rollers 35 and 3@ in the shape of a truncated cone are idly mounted onshaft 31 on both sides of arm 33. The lines of direction of theserollers, which are mounted head to tail, are slanted with respect to thelongitudinal axis of the shaft, so as to facilitate the advance of theintermediary yarn 8.

When the arm mounted on the shaft rotates according to the figure in abackward direction (a clockwise direction), it causes, for example, thetake-up of the intermediary yarn originating from the first coveringelement and the winding of this intermediary yarn 8 on the storagemember. Thus an amount of yarn which is greater than that being taken upby the rewinding system is being accumulated. If the movement of the armis stopped, everything operates as if the reserve member 17 did notexist, and the intermediary yarn 8 is unwound at normal take-up speed.If, however, the direction of rotation of the driven arm is inverted, iteliminates the take-up of the intermediary yarn 8, which causes theeffect yarn 6 to form a protuberance. Simultaneously, because of thefreewheel assembly, the intermediary yarn 8 continues to be taken upthrough the second covering element at a constant speed, and the bindingyarn 11 is Wound on the intermediary yarn 8 with a substantiallyconstant twist.

By combining the forward direction, the backward operation and the stopsof the yarn delivery arm, it is possible to create all kinds of nubbledeffects such as nubs or bumps, flakes or wisps, etc., with variablelength and diameter. This movement may be controlled by any appropriatemeans, such as described below.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the yarn delivery arm 23 or 33 has a yarnguiding member 24 or 34 at its free extremity. To prevent damaging, evenpartially, of the protuberances formed by the effect yarn and not yetaflixed by the binding yarn, a grooved wheel idly mounted isadvantageously used as yarn guiding member.

FIG. 5 illustrates still another embodiment of the reserve member. Suchreserve member, also placed between the two covering elements 7 and 10,is composed of a hollow arm 41 through which the intermediary compositeyarn 8 passes. This arm distributes the yarn on a truncated cone 42where it is accumulated. The yarn is then removed from the truncatedcone 42 by the winding take-up, passing on an eyelet 43. As above, thearm 41 may be driven by any suitable means.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the reserve member may compirse shaft 51which goes freely through a fixed unit 52 carrying rollers such as 53idly mounted on axles 54 carried by the unit 52.

Shaft 51 is integrated with a disc 55 (see FIG. 7), on either side ofwhich are positioned the rollers 53.

Disc 55 has a cavity 56 in which a small wheel 57 is idly mounted.Cavity 56 is extended to the periphery of the disc 55 by a slot 58 whichpermits the yarn to be brought to the wheel 57. Disc 55 is eneveloped bya segment 59 which is integrated with the unit 52 and has a yarn-guide60 at its free extremity.

This reserve member permits the positioning of the yarn in a simplemanner. Yarn 8 is placed on yarn guide 60 from which it is made to slideto the periphery of the disc 55 at the moment when the reserve memberreleases some yarn. Thus, at the beginning of the storing movement ofthe yarn, slot 58 automatically snatches the yarn without any manualintervention.

It can be seen that this apparatus permits the positioning of the yarnin a simple operation, which does not require exceptional skill on thepart of the operator and which is effected with precision at the momentwhen the movement of the reserve member is inverted. The result is aconstant effect produced on the yarn, since the first few centimeters ofyarn produced after insertion of the yarn on the reserve member have thesame characteristics as that after any certain amount of time ofoperation.

In addition to the above method of operation, the insertion orpositioning of the yarn may be effected while the loom is in operationwithout disturbing the operation of the other portions of the apparatus.This, of course, is an important advantage of the novel process andapparatus of the present invention.

Additionally, while the reserve member has been described with respectto the foregoing figures as having the aforementioned configurations, itis pointed out that such reserve member can have a variety of othershapes. Thus, for example, the reserve member can be in the form of atreadmill, etc.

The reserve member may be driven by any suitable programming means, forexample, by a cam device actuating its driving shaft into rotation, soas to allow one to obtain a nubbled yarn with evenly or unevenly spacednubs.

It is also possible to use other programming means which produce morevaried effects, such as flake yarns, cockled yarns, knop yarns, bouclyarns, in addition to combining these various effects as desired.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated by FIG.8.

The driving of the reserve member is effected by shaft 21 driven bycouplings 65, 69 and 72, which are actuated by a shaft 68 through theintermediary of pinion sets 66, 70 and 73, which impart predeterminedspeeds to them.

Shaft 68 also actuates, on one hand, the winding roller 16 and on theother hand, through the intermediary of a pinion 75, a double trackchain 77 which acts upon clutches or couplings 65, 69 and 72 through theintermediary of contactors or closing switches 82 and 83. Double-trackchain 77 has stops such as 78 on the first track and 79 on the secondtrack. These stops trip the contactors 82 and 83 which come back totheir initial position during the intervals when the two tracks do notoffer any stops.

As mentioned above, however, it is practically impossible to exactlysynchronize the winding speed and the collecting and releasing speeds;therefore, a pinion 84 '8 which drives through an intermediate set ofpinions 61 and plate 62 are mounted on shaft 21.

According to a first embodiment, plate 62 (see FIG. 8) has two abutments63 and 64. The clutch is then only controlled by the movement of plate62, and the abutments 63 and 64 of said plate act at the end of eachtrip on the contactor 81. When the abutment 63 reverses contactor 81,the electric power is then directed only on clutch 65 which is set intomotion, driving the rotation of shaft 21 causing the accumulation of acertain quantity of yarn on the reserve member until abutment 64 in turntrips contactor 81 causing the switching off of clutch 65 and directingthe electric power upon the contactors 82 and 83, which upon actuationby stops 78 and 79 of chain 77 drive the clutches or couplings 69 and72. These clutches 69 and 72 then drive shaft 21 in reverse direction,causing the partial or total release of the yarn stored on the reservemember, and the partial or total stop of the take-up of the intermediaryyarn, which produces the formation of a protuberance by the effect yarn.

During this period, plate 62 driven by shaft 21 comes back to itsstarting point, i.e., the point when the fixed abutment 63 actuatesagain contactor 81 and the cycle starts again.

According o a second type of embodiment, the above contactors 81, 82,and 83 are double acting (see FIG. 9), which permits an operating systemwith a minimum storing or collecting of yarn. The device then operatesas follows: The electric current still arrives at 80, the doubleactingcontactor 82, in low position between stops, sends the current onto thedouble acting contactor 83, which drives between stops (low position)the clutch 69' and on stops (high position) the clutch 72.

Since the chain continues to turn, the double acting contactor 82 comesin contact with a stop 79 and reaches the high position. In thisposition, it switches off the feeding of double acting contactor 83 andsends the current in the storing clutch 65.

During the duration of stop 79, clutch 65 permits the storing orcollecting of the yarn, then stops when the stop is passed. At thatmoment, clutches 69 and 72 are switched on again under the effect ofcontactor 83.

The adjusting by the compensating member is effected as follows: Duringthe operation of clutches 69 and 72 during the course of the releasingof yarn, plate 62 turns in a direction such that abutment 63 comes nearcontactor 81 and lifts it, while at that moment the current is turnedoff on clutches 69 and 72 as well as on clutch 65, if the first trackdoes not have any stops 79 at the level of contactor 82.

The result is that shaft 21 as well as plate 62 are then stopped, butchain 77 continuing its rotation since it is driven by shaft 68 liftscontactor 82 by means of a stop 79 and thus sends the current in clutch65 which starts operating again; plate 62 starts off again in reversedirection, contactor 81 comes down, which permits the current to passbetween contactor 83 and clutches 69 and 72, which are switched onagain. As soon as contactor S2 is again in low position, plate 62changes its direction of rotation, and the cycle starts again.

The second type of embodiment has the advantage of multiplying theeffects without creating large areas without any yarn effect, becausethe storing and release operations fall on each other constantly,creating alternating areas with and without effects, in controlledlengths and without any long areas of yarn without effects. Moreover,this arrangement with compensation at the minimum storage pointfacilitates the positioning of the yarn on the reserve member.

According to a variation of the present device, plate 62 is replaced bya screw controlling a threaded sprocket or cam-wheel which slides in agroove and changes its direction of translation according to thedirection of rotation of shaft 21 driven by clutches 65, 69 and 72, said9 sprocket or cam-wheel also controlling contactor 81 at the end of itspath.

It is obvious that these types of embodiments are not limiting, and thatit is possible, for example, to operate with compensation at the maximumstorage point without departing from the scope of the invention.

On the other hand, it is also possible to increase the effects obtainedon the yarn, for example, by giving to contactors 82 and 83 a relativemovement with respect to chain 77, which allows the superposition asecond periodic movement on the movement created by chain 77, thereforegiving a periodic variation in the effects created on the fancy yarn.

Another alternative, which may be utilized with that first discussed,consists of replacing the double track chain 77 by another programmingmeans such as a magnetic tape with two tracks or more. If more than twotracks are used, other clutches such as 69 and 72 are provided, whichallows one to obtain still morespecial effects. Therefore, such a deviceis not limited in the number of special effects obtained.

It can be seen from the above description that the process and apparatusof the present invention possess great versatility. Thus, in accordancewith the present invention it is possible to obtain yarns having all ofthe generally desired fancy effects. These include nubs, flakes, orsmall loops in a continuous or discontinuous manner, as well as variousother desired effects.

Similarly, it should be quite clear from the above detailed descriptionof the process and apparatus of the present invention that the processof the present invention is not dependent upon the use of any particulartype of yarn. Thus, the yarns employed in accordance with the presentinvention may be of any origin, e.g., natural or artificial orsynthetic. In addition, such yarns may be formed of continuous filamentsor cut fibers and the various yarns employed in the production of asingle fancy yarn may be of the same type or of a different nature.

In addition, in the above description of the process and apparatus ofthe present invention the reserve member has been described primarily inconjunction with a mill employing hollow spindles. However, a particularadvantage of the process and apparatus of the present invention is thatthe reserve member employed can be adapted for use in conjunction withany fancy loom, particularly 2-stage looms, and more generally may beadapted for use on a multi-delivery loom for the purpose of obtaining adesired specific effect.

Thus, for example, this element may be adapted to a texturing loom forthe purpose of obtaining a fancy textured/non-textured yarn by feedingthe yarn through the thermal treatment oven at variable speeds andtherefore texturing different plastic conditions. This can be achieved,for example, by placing it below the texturing spindle and controllingthe tension of the yarn above the oven by means of a tension device, thereceiving being effected at a constant speed.

Similarly, this element may be used in a pneumatic texturing device forthe purpose of causing special effects on the yarn subjected for longeror shorter periods of time to the action of a fluid.

It can be seen, therefore, that the novel process and apparatus of thepresent invention constitutes a substantial improvement in the art ofproducing fancy yarns.

We claim:

1. In a process for the production of a fancy yarn wherein, in a firstcovering element, an effect yarn is wound on at least one core yarn toform an intermediate yarn and, in a second covering element a bindingyarn is wound on said intermediate yarn, the improvement which comprisesvarying the speed of the core yarn through the first covering element toform the intermediate yarn by accumulating a continually varying lengthof said intermediate yarn on a reserve member located between the firstand second covering elements, while simultaneously maintaining asubstantially constant intermediate yarn speed through the secondcovering element and winding the finished fancy yarn at the samesubstantially constant speed.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the varying of the speed of the coreyarn produces a continuous variance in the length of the intermediateyarn.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the variance in the speed of the coreyarn produces a periodical variance in the length of the intermediateyarn.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein the variance in the speed of the coreyarn produces an aperiodic variance in the length of the intermediateyarn.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the speed of winding of the finishedfancy yarn is synchronized with the speed of the core yarn.

6. In an apparatus for producing fancy yarns comprising means to supplya core yarn; a first covering element carrying an effect yarn with saidcore yarn passing through the longitudinal axis of said first element; asecond covering element carrying a binding yarn to bind the intermediateyarn formed in said first covering element; and a winding system for thefinished fancy yarn from said second covering element; the improvementwhich comprises, between said first and second covering elements, areserve member upon which the intermediate yarn may accumulate, and atleast one means which allows a continual varying of the length of saidintermediate yarn accumulated on said reserve member, said Windingsystem for the finished fancy yarn being one which operates at aconstant take-up speed.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said reserve member comprises a unitrotating around a fixed axle, integral with an arm provided with a yarnguiding element, said arm being placed between two sets of rollers idlymounted on said rotating unit in a position substantially perpendicularto the axis of rotation of said rotary unit.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said reserve member comprises a unitrotating around a fixed axle, said unit carrying at least one roller orset of rollers idly mounted.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said roller or set of rollers isassociated with a disc equipped with a yarn guiding element, said yarnguiding element being integral with the axis of rotation of said rotaryunit and placed substantially perpendicular thereto.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said rotating unit carries severalrollers or sets of rollers separated substantially symmetrically by saiddisc.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said yarn guiding element comprisesa grooved wheel idly mounted in a cavity in said disc, said cavityextending to the periphery of said disc by means of a slot provided insaid disc to permit access of the intermediate yarn to said groovedwheel.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said reserve member is associatedwith a fixed sector enveloping said disc and supporting a fixed orpivoting yarn guide to receive said intermediate yarn.

13. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said reserve member is driven by arotary driving means controlled by an effect-controlled devicecomprising at least one programming means and at least one adjustmentcompensating means.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 in which said driving means for therotation of said reserve member comprises clutch means.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said driving means for therotation of said reserve member comprises coupling means.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the driving means for the rotationof said reserve member comprises a variable speed motor.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said programming means comprises adouble track chain.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said programming means comprises amagnetic tape.

19. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said adjustment compensatingelement comprises a disconnecting switch means controlled by therotation of said reserve member, said disconnecting switch meanspermitting the disconnecting of the driving means controlling therotation of said reserve member.

20. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said adjustment compensatingelement comprises a plate equipped with at least one fixed abutment,said plate being driven by the driving means controlling the rotation ofsaid reserve member, said fixed abutment acting upon at least onedisconnecting switching means permitting the disconnection of thedriving means for the rotation of said reserve member.

21. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said adjustment compensatingelement comprises a screw controlling a threaded cam-wheel which slidesinto a groove and changes its direction of translation according to the12 direction of rotation of the driving shaft controlling the rotationof said reserve member, said cam-wheel additionally controlling at leastone disconnecting switch means to disconnect the driving means for therotation of said reserve member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,076,805 10/1913 Young 57-912,211,434 8/1940 Perry 5716 2,224,110 12/1940 Walsh 5716 2,302,54311/1942 Gift, Jr. 5716 3,074,223 1/1963 Servage 5718 3,133,401 5/1964Servage 5718 3,439,484 4/1969 Nalpas et al 5716 3,445,994 5/1969 Nalpas5712 JOHN PETRAKES, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 5717, 18, 160

